Oldham's Co-operative Council: A social productivity framework
At a time when most councils face huge fiscal, demand and political pressures, Oldham Council has embarked on an ambitious journey to by becoming a co-operative borough. A former mill town, Oldham has suffered steep economic decline compounded by often tense community relations which culminated in riots in the summer of 2001. The past few years have seen a determined attempted by council leaders to improve the quality of governance within the borough and to tackle the challenge of building a sustainable economic and social future for Oldham.
In this report, 2020 Hub assesses Oldham's progress against its co-operative vision and what must still be done to achieve it. While the council has come some way in its journey, a number of challenges towards realising its co-operative vision still remain. The report recommends that the council introduces a clear 'roadmap for change' through which its citizens can hold the local authority to account; offers partners a 'new co-operative deal', setting out the commitments expected from citizens, public sector organisations and local businesses; carries out a spending and growth review for social productivity in Oldham in the run up to HM Treasury's 2013 Spending Review; and strengthens the Local Leaders Programme, including more support for councillors and better use of new technology.
This report was supported by Oldham Council and Local Government Leadership.
Download Oldham's Co-operative Council: A social productivity framework report (PDF, 834KB)
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